Kawakami: Exclusive Mark Jackson Q&A on Kerr hiring

Just spoke with Mark Jackson, who laughed when he picked up the phone and then went sort of silent when I told him he wasn't getting rid of me this easily.

"I'm learning that," Jackson said, before laughing even louder .

It's nine days since Jackson's firing by the Warriors and a day after they concluded their search and replaced him with Steve Kerr. Which is how I began the interview . . .

Q: Your thoughts on the Warriors hiring Kerr? Think he fits what they wanted when they dismissed you?

JACKSON: I have no thoughts either way. Congratulations to him. Wish him the best. He's inherited a great team with a great future.

And they are a championship-caliber team. Wish them nothing but the best.

Q: Do you suspect they wanted Kerr maybe even before they fired you?

JACKSON: I don't pay any attention to that. What are you going to do with that?

Q: Have you read or heard anything that Lacob or Kerr have said the last few days? The Warriors sure are making it clear they're looking for something different.

JACKSON: Haven't read it to be quite honest.

Ultimately, there's no question that they're a very good team. It's documented that they should be a top-seed, documented they should be in the mix for the West, and they're only going to get better.

It's a great team. I wish nothing but the best for them.

Q: As a guy who had a similar path that he's taking now, from the broadcast booth to the Warriors job without coaching experience, do you understand what he's going through? Feel any of that?

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JACKSON: From my end to his? For me, he's not just broadcaster going straight into coaching. I played against him, know him, respect him. A first-class guy.

And so it's not because he has no experience and he's gotten the job and he fits that mold of coming straight from the booth.

Just a guy I have respect for and wish him nothing but the best.

People say why didn't I tweet congratulations yesterday, because I tweeted congratulations to Stan Van Gundy. So why not tweet congratulations to Steve Kerr?

And the only reason for that is it could be read different. So I texted him congratulations. I've got respect for him.

It's nothing negative or any feelings that way. I've got respect for him and wish him the best.

Q: You know people read your congratulations for Van Gundy as a semi-sarcastic swipe at the Warriors -- congratulating him for not taking the Warriors job?

JACKSON: Uh, no. No. I was really just congratulating him. It's good for him, he's a good coach and he's got a great opportunity. So I was just congratulating him.

That's what the internet, what Twitter is for, like that, if you use it wisely. It was a way to show support and congratulate him.

One thing I will say I did not . . . Somebody said -- maybe it was you-- that I was wearing the black suit (for Game 7) to say that I was getting whacked.

Q: That was not me. I said it was not about your situation.

JACKSON: Well, somebody said that and it's not true. I wore it because "somebody's getting whacked," meaning the Clippers.

To say "I'm getting whacked?" Why would I do that? It had nothing to do with that.

Q: Yeah, I know you and you weren't going to wear a suit announcing to your team that you thought they were going to lose that game, which would lead to your immediate firing.

JACKSON: That would be silly for me to do that. That's not how I do stuff.

Q: Did you talk to Stan Van Gundy before he made his decision about what happened to you?

JACKSON: No. no. I think everybody knows what happened. I think everybody's well aware. So there's no reason, unless somebody wanted to hear it from the horse's mouth.

Q: You have anything going on with any other teams?

JACKSON: Just sitting by the phone and waiting for a decision on the next move. I'm excited about what lies ahead and just relaxing with the family right now. And it'll play itself out.

Q: As a New Yorker, are you surprised Kerr didn't take the Knicks job?

JACKSON: Didn't really pay much attention to it. I guess the red flag was the delay. And that's the only thing.

That's why I'm probably not surprised. But it worked out in the end for him. He's making a lot of money, going to a great situation, a place that wanted him badly with a championship-caliber team. That's ready to win.

Great decision or him; let's see how it plays out.

Q: Any thoughts about Kerr walking in with a five-for-$25-million deal three years after you got three-for-$6-million or now it's four-for-$8-million?

JACKSON. No. I'm happy for him.

Q: You think you could be a fit for the Knicks' job?

JACKSON: I'm a guy that's totally at peace. That hasn't changed.

When the opportunity presents itself, I'll be coaching or doing something else. I'm totally at peace and fine with waiting for the next move. And that's if I never coach again and that's if I coach again. That hasn't changed.

I will continue to conduct myself and carry myself as consistent as the public has seen, not just for three years but for my entire life.

Q: Curry clearly was vocally supporting you throughout. But now he's saying he's excited by the Kerr hire. Are you OK with that?

JACKSON: If I ever coach again, if I comment about a great point guard or say how I'm excited about coaching another great point guard, I won't be diminishing what I think about Steph and my relationship with him.

I don't take it that way. I'm pulling for him. It was an honor and a privilege to coach him and the guys I coached for three years. I don't look at it that way all.